Driving mechanism for retractable antennae



Jan. 27, 1959 E. CARLSON DRIVING MECHANIASM FOR RETRACTABLE ANTENNAE Filed July 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 27, 1959 Filed yJuly 26, 1955 E. CARLSON DRIVING MECHANISNIl FOR RETRACTABLE ANTENNAE 4 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Jan. 27, 1959 E. CARLSON 2,870,973

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR RETRACTABLE ANTENNAE Filed July ze, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fdl-Zaal?. BY

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Jan. 27, 1959 Filed July 26, 1955 E. CARLSON DRIVING MECHANISM FOR RETRACTABLE ANTENNAE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ydu.,

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DRIVING MECHANISM F R RETRACTABLE ANTENNAE Emil Carlson, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Pioneer Specialty Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 26, 1955, Serial No. 524,449 23 Claims. (Cl. 242`-54) This invention relates to driving means-for retractable antennae, particularly for vehicular installations.

An important object of the invention. is to provide an improved driving mechanismfor a retractableantenna comprising a plurality `of telescopic sections, which mechanism is of novel, simple, rugged and` reliable char-` acter and is operative to project and retract all of the sections at will and to any desired extent.

Another object is to provide such an antenna `drive mechanism which is extremely compact and which is easily installable, and also easily removable for servicing, even in confined quarters.

Still another object is to provide such an antenna driving mechanism having high electrical eciency and which is so designed that the electrical efficiency is maintained over a longuseful life.

A further object is to provide such a driving mechanism which utilizes `a substantially inextensible driving cable adapted to be secured at one end to an inner section of a multi-sectioned telescopic antenna assembly, and which incorporates unique, compact and interrelated friction driving means and storage means for the driving cable, the driving and storage means forming a compact cy1indrical assembly, all portions of which are of relatively large size and rugged construction and adapted to be inexpensively formed of sheet metaland die-cast parts.

Still another object is to provide improved driving means capable of exerting relatively large propulsive effort upon the antenna yet which is so arranged that the drive is readily `reversible at all times without danger of jamming or` sticking, even though power be applied in an eort to continue to raise the antenna after it is `already fully extended or to lower the antenna after it is already fully retracted. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings: f

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an antenna driving mechanism assembly incorporating the present invention, an associated antenna assembly being fragmentarily housing with thepulley, storage drum, pressure shoe and outer cover removed to more clearly show the location of the drive worm and of the feed groovefor guiding and transferring the cord or rod axially between the storage drum and the drive pulley;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view take substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Y p Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along the line of Fig. 1;

, 2,870,913 Patented Jan. 27, 1959 ice Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the drive housing, with the storage drum and outer cover removed, and with a portion of the pulley broken away to more clearly show the axial feed groove in the housing which guides the axial travel of the cord between the pulley and the storage drum;

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are fragmentary radial sections through theouter periphery of the housing in the region of the cord feed groove, the sections being taken, respectively, along lines 8 8, 9 9 and 10-10 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing a modification wherein the antenna and motor are arranged side-by-side; and

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the housing of Fig. 11 with the motor `and antenna removed.

Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 468,035, iiled November 1t), 1954, and now abandoned, bearing like title.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly toFigs. 1-10 inclusive, reference character 10 designates generally a portion of a motor vehicle body which is illustrated in cross section as typifying a supporting part of a vehicle upon which an antenna incorporating `my improved driving means maybe installed. The antenna construction per se is subject to variation and forms in itself no part of my present invention. A suitable antenna construction is disclosed in my Patent No. 2,634,370, granted April 7, 1953. This antenna construction comprises three vertically slidable sections including a central section 12, an intermediate section 14 and an outermost section 15, all of said sections being slidable relatively to one another and supported in a stationary tubular antenna section 16 in which the section 15 is slidably mounted. Appropriate limiting means are provided (not shown) for preventing each movable section from movingentirely out of the tubular section in which it is iitted, and also limiting their relative retraction, and an actuating cord or rod 20 is secured to the lower extremity of the central section 12 and arranged to directly actuate `such central section. By virtue of the incorporation of the aforementioned limiting means, when the central section 12 reaches the end of its travel with relation to the intermediate section 14, it picks upand actuates such intermediate section, while the intermediate section in similar fashion, when it reaches the end of its travel in either direction, picks up and actu-V ates the section 15. The stationary tubular section 16 is supported in and insulated from a grounded metallic housing tube 18 which is concealed beneath the enclosing vehicle portion 10 when the antenna is installed, as shown, the housing tube 18 having a reduced upper neck portion projecting through a hole in the bodyportion 10 and being held in position by an acorn nut `22 and suitable insulating ller bushings as 24. l The antenna sections` 12, 14, 15,16 are electrically interconnected at all times by suitable sliding `contact means (not shown). A lead-in I terminal assembly 25 is providedwhich is electrically connected to the section 16 and electrically connectible to a suitable lead-in conductor as 26 adapted to extend to the radio apparatus, as will be appreciated. All of the antenna and leadin structure `thus far described is well known in the art and will not require more detailed con sideration, being in fact subject to variation without departing from the principles of the present invention, as will also be appreciated.

At its lower extremity the housing tube 18 is secured to the upper end of a connecting nipple portion 30 fitted into the lower extremity of the tube and secured thereto as by screws 32. The nipple portion 30 forms an integral upwardextension of a housing 33 for the driving mech-` anism. The housing 33, which may be formed as a die casting, rigidly interconnects the antenna assembly and 33 is provided with an inte-gral flanger 34 secured as by I bolts or screw means 36 to the upper end belll 38 of the` electric motor 35. An O-ring 37 is provided to seal the bell 38 to the iiange 34. The lower end flange, or boss 39 of the motoris adapted' to be attached tov asuitable supporting portionV of the'vehicle structure', as. by means of a suitable bracket (not shown): An intermediate portlon of the housing 33 is provided" with av cylindrical chamber 44, the axis of which is perpendicular to that of the antenna assembly and laterally offset. therefrom to such extent thatthe wall'of chamber 44is substantially tangent to the axis ofthe anntena. A hole or passageway 45 of asize to permit easy sliding of the driving cord 20 therethrough extends axially through. the nipple portion ilandl opens tangentiall'y4 into the chamber 44 through an opening 46, providingy communication betweenthe chamber 44 and the interior of the fixed antenna section 16; The housing 33 is provided in its bottom portion with slots 47' through which a felt wick 49 depends to serve as a drain to let water out of the housing.

The cord 20 may be formed of solid nylon or other suitable substantially inelastic but bendable insulating materialwhich is of sufficient rigidity so that it is effective, when supportedin the manner indicated and housed in the passageway-45 and'in the antenna sections, to drive the antenna sections'longitudinally when forcedupwardly and pulled'downwardly through the passageway 45.' The term inelastic in this connection is usedherein and in the claims in its ordinary,"nontechnicalsense to mean highly resistant to expansion and contraction. (The cord 2@ has,i ofcourse,y considerable elasticity, in the technical meaning ofthe word, and exhibits a strong tendency to regain its initial" shape when deformed.)

The chamber 44 is open at one side, shown at the right in Pigs. 2"and"'5," the open side beingcovered by a suitable sheet n ietal'cap as Sl'; One side of the casing structure 33' forms` thebottom wallfBS' of the'chamber 44,",and'is provided'vwith` an axially yextending central bearing boss portion 52 in which a bearing bushing 54 is litted. Such wall may also be, reinforced by suitable radial stiifening ribs as S. A shaft Sis rotatably supported in the bushing 5.4 and in a coaxial bearing bushing 58 centrally mounted in the` cap 50. Fastened on the shaft 56 adjacent the bottom wall 53 isa large worm gear 62, formed of molded orpressed nylon, or other suitable. plastic, or it may be of die-castor stamped or machined metal. in my preferred construction this member is formedof molded nylon impregnatedwithglass fibers.

I intersecting the chambenl4A at a position. substantially tangential with respect; tothegear 62 is aradially recessed chamber portion 65 (Figs. 4 and 5.)y which houses a worm 66 meshingy with theworm gear62.: The extremities of the worm 66 Vare provided withintegral coaxial upper and lower shaft portions 6S,.7djournaled in suitable bearing bushings as 72, 74supported `in the tWalls ofthe casing structure., An end thrust bearing l,ball75 ,isplaced .in the bushing A72 between the shaftend portion: 68 anda thrust wear plate 76. Bearingbushing 74-issupported in the lower end wall portion 7S of the gear chamber. 65 in Athe casing structure 33 and shaft portion 70 projects downwardly below the wall portion 78 Aand theupper portion of a chamber S9, where itis provided with a suitable coupling portionzshown as a flattened portion S2 which is passed through the upperzmetal plate 86-of a torsionally elastic coupling 84. The armature shaft'90 is similarly attened and passed through the lower plate 92 of the coupling 84. A layer 93 of elastic substance such as rubber is adhered between the plates 86', 92- to absorb torsional forces.

Fastenedto the shaft 56 adjacent the worm gear 62 is a friction drive pulley `94,`,the ,gear andpulley being rigidly secured together by rivets 96 passed vthr'oughboth gearand pulley andthroughspacer projectionsior. vsleeves 98 integral with the gear to hold the assembly in spacedapart relation and make gear andV pulley rotate as a unit.

A storage drum, generally designated by the numeral 100, for the actuating cord 20 is also carried by and is freely rotatable on the shaft 56 between the pulley 94 and the cap 50. The drum is pressed from a single disk of sheet metal and yis centrally apertured and loosely fitted on shaft 56, washers 99 being provided between the drum and the pulley 94 and between the drum and the bearing bushing 58 in order to ensure free rotation of the drum. The drum 100 includes a flat web portion 102 lying beside' thepulley 94 andan annular storage pocket portion 104 opening toward the pulley and closed at its opposite axial end whichis positioned close to the cap 50. The pocket is bounded-by radially-spaced concentric cylindrical inner and outer walls 105, 1116. The radius of the pulley 94 is substantially equal to the mean radius of pocket 104, and the radius of the outer wall 106 of the pocket" exceeds the radius of-y the pulley by more than one butless than two times the diameter of the driving cord 20. The outer ends of the pulley fingers 1tl8on the side of the pulley adjacent the drurrlv 100 are substantiallycentered with respect to the mouth of the storage pocket. It will be. seen that the outer periphery of the pulley is'spaced radially from the outer drum wall 106 by a distance'less than twice the diameter of the cord'.

The pulley 94'i`s seen to comprise a single circular plate of metal having in its periphery 'a plurality of resilient, curved' fingers 1'08'which are curved alternately in' opposite directions so as to grasp or pinch the cord in the groovelike space therebetween; The lingers 168 are made by slitting or cutting the outer periphery of the circular plate on radial lines, or nearly radial lines, to form short tabs of metal. These tabsare then blent'incpposite directions (Fig. 2)'. The oppositel-y bent lingers. are inclined'iwith respectto one another toward the bottom so `thatnear their bottoms the space between them, in an axial direct'iomis slightly smaller than the diameter of the cord2t). When the cord is pushed firmly between thev lingers 10S, the latter exert a pinching action on the cord. Since the fingers are not located directly opposite each other the cordis held therebetween much as a pencil orcord is held when it is interlaced or woven through or between ones lingers. A pulley made inV this fashion is inexpensive to manufacture, and mort-:oven grips the smoothcord. with great effectiveness. As va result, ythe cord has little tendency to slipy and the fingers, being smooth and large in area, have little tendency tofabrade the cord..

The chamber-44 is of stepped diametert(Fig. 2), the axially outer portion 114 thereof (nearer the open end), whichhouses the drum, being of greater diameter than theinner portion 116-which houses the gear 62.- An` in termediate portion of the peripheral wall ofthe stepped chamber 44, connecting the reduced diameter-inner portion1116 and the larger outerportion 114, which peripherally'surroundsthe pulley 90 will `be -referredfto as the connectingwall, and .consists-vof. two differently constructed parts. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 7, in-an-area which includes the bottomhalf of the casing, and extending upwardly on both sides slightly above a horizontal diameter, the connecting wall, designated 115,` is flat, perpendicular to the axis of shaft 56, and located substantially in the plane of the tips of the inner fingers 108 of the pulley. The cylindricalwall portion 112 lwhich joins the fiat wall. portion to the peripheral Wall of the outer drum-housing chamber portion114 constitutes ak smooth continuationof. suchfdrum-chamber wall. The wall `portion k112 thus has a cylindrical internal surface forming an inward extension of lthe wall of portion 114, and is joined to the reduced inner chamber portion 116 housing the gear by the flat wall. 115. Fitted in the-enlarged lportion thus dened is pressure shoel generally designated 118. The shoe 11S comprises. a curved member, preferably made of a flexible but 'relativelyffstifl plastic su'ch as nylon, having a smooth cylindrical inner surface 119 in contact `with the cord 20. In `itsouter convex surface the shoe 118 has `a plurality or series of uniformly spaced,` integral cuplikehollow bosses 120, open at their outer ends and in each of which there is seated one end of a coiled compression spring 121. The outer end of each spring 1211's seated on the inner peripheral wall portion 112. Thejcuplike spring retainer housings 120 enclose a considerable portion of -the lengthof the springs 121 and locate the shoe and the springs between the wall 115 andthe rim of drum 100. The shoe is flexible so that it may conform to the cord and exert a substantially uniform pressure on the cord throughout its length, the springs 121, acting through the shoe, urge the cord between thefngers 108 of the pulley 90.

The innersurface of the shoe is smooth and bears against the surface ofthe driving cord without touching the pulley flange fingers, thereby acting to force the cord into and wedge it in the angular pulley groove defined by such lingers, while creating a minimum of friction.

The upper portion of the axially intermediate area of the casing wall,`extending somewhat less than half Way around and substantially peripherally aligned with the pulley, is of stepped `form as indicated generally at 124. The stepped wall portion is provided in its surface facing the drum, with a feed groove 125 of graduated` depth and whichis deepest at` `the left end of the stepped wall 124, as the parts are viewed in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, which is the end farther from the position of the opening 46 through which the cord enters and leaves the casing. The groove or guideway 125 lies substantially ona helix and decreases in depth in a clockwise direction, running out at a position 126 spaced from the cord guide passage-` way 45. The groove 125 guides the cord in both radial and axial directions, its`runout position 126 being radially and axially adjacent the `outer surface106 of the storage drumpocket 104, the cord being guided therethrough be-` tween the groove of the pulley and the drum, that is, durf. ing its travel out of the pulley groove and into the drum as the cord and antenna are being pulled down, and out of the drum and into the pulley groove as the cordV and antenna are being pushed up.

Considering Fig. 3 and assuming that the aerial is being pulled down by rotation of the pulley 94 clockwise as viewed in that gure, the cord is drawn downwardly and enters the chamber 44 in alignment with the pulley groove fingers at the right, in a position such that it immediately extends into the space between the pulley groove fingers and the end of` shoe 118.t` As any given portion of the cord leaves the opposite end of shoe 118 it enters the helically inclined groove 125 in wall 124, in the deepest part of the helical groove as shown in Fig. 7. The recess 125' gradually becomes of less and less depth, as is shown in Figs. 8 through 10. As the cord` slides through such inclined groove, therefore, it is guided into the storage drum. It should be noted `that the peripherally surrounding portion of the stepped wall 124 extends, throughout its length, to a` position close to the free edge of outer drum wall 106, so that the cord cannot enter between the free edge of the drum and such peripheral wall, but is guided smoothly into the drum pocket. It will be observed that the drum is freely rotatable and is driven only by the cord itself, so `that no resistance to rotation of the drum results from the difference in radius between the drum and the pulley.

When the pulley is rotated in the opposite direction, to project the antenna, the pulley pulls the cord out of the drum along the helically extending surface of groove 125 and into the pulley groove ngers and `the shoe forces the cord into the space between the lingers with a desired pressure to insure adequate tractive effort upon the cord, which is forced upwardly by the pulley` through passageway 45 to drive the antenna upwardly. The drum is freely rotatable, as noted previously, and the cord, being solid, resists bending, so` that there `isno tendency for the portion of the cord` between the extreme ends of theA guidway to pull radially inwardly andtrub against the peripheral ends of the pulley groove fingers 108 as the cord is pulled out of the drum, but any possibility of this is eliminated by providing an axially projecting rib 12S on the inner edge of the stepped wall 124 in the area occupied by the right-hand portion of the guideway, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5.

Ifthe motor is` energized after the antenna reaches either end of its travel, the pulley will be held against further rotation, tending to cause the worm 66 to wedge against the teeth of the gear 62. In constructions in use heretofore, the wedging action has been so great as to.

prevent subsequent reverse rotation of the parts. However, the drive unit of thepresent invention preferably employs a motor which when driving through the worm and worm wheel arranged as shown, will exert not more than approximately 25 lbs. of driving force `upon the central antenna section before stalling. Furthermore, the elastic coupling 84 cushions the force with which `the worin 66 is wedged against the teeth of the gear 62. The combination of these two factors greatly reduces the wedging force built up between the worm 66 and gear 62;` As the motor is energized after the antenna has reached the end of its travel, the motor torque twists the elastic couplingand holds it stressed, but does not exert enough force to wedge the worm teeth so tightly as to prevent subsequent reverse actuation of the antenna. When the motor is de-energized, which is of course its normal condition, except when the antenna is being actuated, the elastic coupling rapidly unwinds and assists in freeing the worm teeth. t

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 and l2, many of the parts are the` same as in the lirst embodiment and will not require detailedtredescription. The housing is provided on its right side (as viewed in Fig. 1l) with an integral, upwardly-projecting mounting or coupling member `30 similar to that of the housing shown` in Figs; 1` to 10. As before, the coupling member 30 contains an internal cord guiding passageway 45 for guiding the cord into and out of the housing and the connected antenna assembly. As in the drive unit of Figs. 1 to l0, the coupling member 30 is secured to the mounting tube 18. On the left hand side of the housing 130, and projecting upwardly substantially in the same plane as coupling 30, there is provided an integral drive motor coupling 132 having a flange 134 for attachment to the drive motor 3S. As appears in Fig. 12 the coupling 132 is offset and tilted conformably to the pitch of the worm teeth, as in the case of the coupling 34 ofthe first embodiment. This permits the use of straight spur teeth on the worm` wheel. The worm 136 is, in this embodiment, arranged upon `the opposite side from the hole 145, in a pocket 165, at the left, as `the parts are viewed in Fig. 1l, and in position to mesh with the worm wheel (not shown). It will be appreciated that the motor and driving worm assembly, although shown in the irst embodiment in a position substantially in line with the antenna, and in this second embodiment shown in' atposition spaced from but generally parallel to the antenna assembly, might actually be located upon an axis extending (generally tangentially) at any desired angle. The worm is located beneathy the pulley and does not interfere withthe pulley or other rotating parts, permitting wide variation in the angular positioning of the worm and motor, as noted., By arranging the motor so that it projects upwardly, as shown in Fig. 11, the overall length of the assembly is decreased, and the entire motor driven antenna assembly is of minimum length when collapsed, in. proportion to` the effective length of the antenna when extended.

While it will` be apparent that the preferred embodi-1` ments of the invention herein described are well calculated to fulfill the objects and advantages first above stated,`

it will beappreciated that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change with departing from aavogsws '|21' d the fair .meaning and 'proper scope of the appended claims'.

What is claimed is:

l. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chambertherein and a` wall bounding said chamber, a driving pulley rotatably supported in said' chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, a passagewayformed in said housing extending' through said wall in a direction generally tangent-ialwith respectrto said pulley groove, a-fguideway formed in,l said hou'sing'a'djacent the periphery ofsaid pulley `and having'faportion sub-v stantially coplanarwithsaidl pulley groove and extending in a'curvedpathpartially around and axially away from said pulley, groove,1and"`a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating 'driving rod .frictionally engaged in said pulley groove and driv'ab'le by said'pulley'and extending outwardly in one'directio-n fromtsaid pulley groove through saidlpassagewayyand extending outwardly and laterally fromsaid pulley groove in the opposite angular direction in' fa generally helico-spirallpath and along said guideway.

2. A driving'v mechanism including a housing having a chamberth'erein and a wall bounding said chamber, a driving pulley rotatably mounted in said chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, a passageway formed in said housing extending through said wall in a direction substantially tangential to s-aid pulley groove and communicating vwith the exterior of said housing, a guideway formed in said housing adjacent the periphery of said pulley and having a portion substantially coplanar with said pulley' groove and extending in a curved path partially around and axially away' from said pulley groove, a exible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod for"driving-association with a memberto be moved, said rodi extending through said passageway and into and alongla portion' of the groove of said pulleyl and'thereafter extending out of said groove ina generally helicospiral p-ath and along said guideway, shoe means slidably en# ga'gingsaid r'od at a'plurality'fof 'positions along the por-y tion of therod which is engaged'in said pulley groove, and spring means forcing' said shoe' means against said rod' whereby said rod is forced into frictional engagement with said pulleyat a plurality of positions.

3. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and a wall bounding said chamber, a driving pulley rotatably supported in said chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, driving means including' a gear mounted coaxially with and fixed to said pulley to rotate said pulley, a guideway formed in said housing adjacent the groove of said pulley and have ing a. portion substantially coplanar with said pulley groove land extending in a curved path partially around andaxially'` away from said groove, andv a exiblebut y relatively inelastic insulating driving rod frictionally en said housing and extending through said wall in adi-y rection substantially tangentially' from said groove of said pulley for communication with an antenna mounted exteriorly of said housing, a guideway formed in said housing adjacent the periphery of said pulley' and having a portion substantially coplanar with said pulley groove andextending in a curved path partially around and axially away from said pulley groove, a llexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod having one end thereof drivingly associated with an antenna and extend ingthrough said passageway and along a portion of the grooveI of said pulley, and extending out of said groove inla'v generally helicolspirall path and along said guideway,.sboe'meansslidably engaging said. rod at a plu-A rality of positions'along theportion ofthe rod engaging said `pulley groove,-said1sh`oe means being providedwith apluralityot' spring elements tendingV to press said shoe meanslagainst said rod whereby said rod is forced into frictionaldriving engagementv withv said pulley, and a rivingfgear fixed' to said pulleyl coaxially therewith for driving saidlpu'lleyfin rotation.

5. A'- driving mechanism including a housing having ascha-mber'itherein andawall'bounding said chamber, a drivi'rgpulley rotatably' supported in said chamber in the housing and having! a peripheral groove, a drum member having an internal storage chamber supported in said housing coaxially withiand rotatable independently of said' pulley and having a substantially cylindrical internal storage surface with an. open end adjacent said pulley, said housing being provided with a passageway extending through said wall substantially tangentially with respect to said' pulley groove and communicating with the exteriorof sa-id"housin'g', a exible but relatively inelastic insulating drivingrodffrictionally engaging in said pulley groove andfdrivable by said pulley, said rod extending in one direction from said pulley into said drum and extendingin the other direction from said pulley into said' passageway, and means to guide said rod between saiddrum andlsaid pulley.

6. A driving mechanism including a housing. having a Chamber therein' and'awall bounding said chamber, a driving pulley-'rotatably supported in said chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, means for driving said pulley in rotation, a free-oating rotatable drum `mourned" in'said chamber coaxially with' said pulley, said drum'laving a substantially cylindrical inter-v nalstorageA chamber and'A terminating in an `open end adjacent saidL pulley; a flexible butv relatively inelastic insulating driving rod adaptedto be secured at one end thereof to' aslidable member'mounted exteriorly of said yhousingand having the other end'thereof coiled in said drum, the' radius of theopen' endlol the drum exceeding thel radius of the pulley by more than one, butlless than two, diameters of the' driving rod, guide means formed integrally with said wall of the housing for feed# ing said extensible rod from' saiddrum into frictional driving engagementr with said pulley and thence to said slidablemember, and meansto force said rod into fric# tional driving engagement with said pulley.

7. A driving mechanism for an extensible antenna including a housing having a chamber therein and a wall bounding said chamber, said housing also having an exteriorly projecting neck adapted to engage an antenna, a passageway formed in said housing extending from said chamber through said wall and through said neck, a' driving pulley rotatablysupported in said chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, said passageway being' substantially tangential to the groovek of said pulley, a drum member defining a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber supported in said housing coaxiallyV with and rotatable independently of said pulley' and having' an open end. adjacent said pulley, a ilexible but `relatively inelastic insulating driving rod associated at one end with an antenna and extending through saidpassageway into frictional driving engagement with said pulley and into said drum, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than one, but less than two, diameters of the driving rod, driving means for said pulley, shoe means slidably engaging said rod at a plurality of positions along the portion thereof engaging said pulle, and meansto urgesaidshoe means against said rodto force it into frictional driving engagement with said pulley at a plurality of positions along the pulley.

8. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and awall bounding said chamber, a driving pulley rotatably'supported in said' chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, means including a gear coaxiallyaixed tosaid pulley for drivj ing said pulley in rotation, a" free-oating rotatable drum mounted on said chamber coaxially` with said pulley, saiddrurn having a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber and an open end adjacent saidpulley, a passageway `formed in said wall generally tangentially to said pulley groove, a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod extending through said passage-` way `adapted to be associated at one `of its ends with a slidable member mounted exteriorly of said housing and having its other end coiled in said storage chamber in Said drum, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than one, but less than two, diameters of the driving rod, and` a guidef, way formed on an` interior surface of said wall adjacent a portion of the `periphery of said pulley to guide said rod out of the grooveof said pulley and into said drum.

9. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and a wall bounding said chamber, a shaft centrally rotatably mounted in said housing and extending axially across said chamber, a peripherally grooved driving pulley and a worm wheel rotatably mounted within said chamber on said shaft in fixed relation toone another, a drum defining a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber journaled on said shaft and having an open end adjacent said pulley and being freely rotatable with respect to said pulley `and worm wheel, a worm journaled in said housing intermeshing with said worm Wheel, means for rotating said worm, a guideway formed in said housing, said guideway having one end thereof adjacent and substantially coplanar with the groove of said pulley and extending in a curved path partially around said groove and being axially inclined away from said groove and toward said drum, and a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod extending through said passageway around a portion of saidpulley groove, along said guideway and into said drum, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by morethan one, butless than two, diameters of the driving rod.

`l0.` A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and a wall `bounding said chamber, a driving pulley rotatably supported in said chamber in the; housing and having a peripheral groove, a passageway formed in said housing and extending tangentially from said pulley groovethrough said wall to the exterior of said housing, a freely rotatable drum mounted in said chamber coaxially with said pulley and defining a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber of greater diameter than said pulley, said drum having an open end adjacent tosaid pulley,` guideway means formed integrally with said housing adjacentthe periphery` of said pulley for guiding a flexible rod axially between said pulley and said drum, a tiexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod frictionally engaging and drivable by said pulley and extending through said passageway exteriorly of `said housing and interiorly partially around said pulley and along said guideway and into` said drum,the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by` more than one, but less than two, diameters of the driving rod, a gear coaxially lixed to said pulley for driving said pulley in rotation, worm drive means intermeshing with said gear and extending tangentially therefrom, and means to urge said rod into `frictional driving engagement with said pulley. i 11. A driving mechanism for an extensible antenna or the like comprising a housing, a peripherally grooved driving pulley rotatably mounted in said housing, a gear mounted in said housing and coaxially fixed to said pulley for rotation therewith, means to drive `said gear in rotation, a drum mounted in said housing coaxially with said said housing` adjacent and substantially coplanar with the groove of said pulley and extending partially around*` and axially` away from said pulley groove and toward `said, drum, a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod frictionally engaging a portion of the.` groove of said pulley and extending out of said groove in a generally helico-spiral path along said guideway and into said drum through the open end of the latter, the radius of the open `end of the drum exceeding the radius ofthe pulley by more than one, but less than two, diameters of the driving rod, a curved flexible shoe member mounted within said housing adjacent the periphery of and extending partially around said pulley and slidably engaging said rod in said pulley groove, and means` to urge said shoef member radially inwardly toward said pulley at a plurality of spaced positions along said pulley groove to force said rod into frictional driving engagement with said pulley.

l2. A `driving mechanism for an extensible antenna` or the like comprising a housing, a peripherally grooved driving pulley rotatably mounted in said housing, a passagewayformed in a wall of said housing and extending generally tangentially from the groove of said pulley through said wall to the exterior of said housing, a gear mounted in said housing and `coaxially afxed to said pulley for rotation therewith, a drum mounted within said housing coaxially with said pulley and freely rotatable independently thereof, said drum dening a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber and having an open end adjacent to and facing said pulley, a guideway formed in said housing adjacent and substantially coplanar with said pulley groove and extending in a curved path partially around and inclined axially away from said pulley groove and toward said drum, a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod extending through said passageway, partially around said pulley and thence along said guide-v way in a generally helico-spiral path and into said drum, the radius of the open end of fthe drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than one, but less than two, diameters of the driving rod, and shoe means mounted in said housing and slidably engaging said rod at a plurality of positions along the portion thereof extending around said pulley to force said rod into said pulley groove `for frictional driving engagement by said pulley. 13. A driving mechanism for an extensible antenna or the like comprising a housing having a chamber therein and a generally cylindricalwall bounding said chamber, a shaft extending substantially axially within said chamber, a peripherally groov'ed driving pulley rotatably supported by said shaft in said housing, said housing also having a neck portion projecting substantially tangentially exteriorly from said wall and adapted to be coupled to a telescopic antenna assembly, a passage-way extending generally tangentially from the groove of said pulley through said wall and neck and providing communication between said chamber and the interior of an antenna as-` j sembly coupled to said neck, a worrn wheel rotatably supy ported in said housing by said shaft and coaxial with and fast with respect to said pulley for rotation with the pulley, a worm in said housing meshing with said worm wheel, an electric motor affixed to the exterior Aof said housing and having a driving shaft substantially coaxial with and drivingly coupled to said worm and also projecting substantially tangentially outwardly from said Wall, a drum supported by said shaft within said housing coaxially with said pulley and worm wheel and freely rotatable independently of said pulley and worm wheel, said drum having a substantially cylindrical internal wall delining an internal storage chamber and having an open end adjacent to and facing toward said pulley, a guideway formed in said housing integrally with said first-mentioned wall and located adjacent to and substantially coplanar at one end with said pulley groove and extending both radiallyV and axially therefrom in a curved path partially tending through said passageway, partially around said` agar-deas pulley andA thence along said guideway' in a generally helico-spiral path andinto saidinternal storage chamber in said drum, the radius of thel open end ofthe drum exceeding the radius of the pulley, and presser' means mounted in said housing and slidablyengaging said rod at a=plurality of positions along the portion thereof extend'- ing around said pulley to forcesaid rod into said pulley groovei'orfrictionaldrivable engagementwith said pulley'.

14. A driving. mechanism for a slidable antenna or the like, comprising a housing having walls defining a chambered=interior, a sheave-having an annular therein, a storage-drum, said sheave and drum being coaxially mounted in saidinterior of the housing, the drum including Va cylindrical internal storage surface having one end located adjacent to the groove insaid sheave, means'for driving the sheave, the drum being freely rotatable'independently of the `driving means and sheave, vsaid housing having an opening extendingthrough one of said walls from a position in substantial alignment with the groove in the sheave andy ina generally tangential direction out of said chambered interior, a generally helically inclined stationary guideway in said casing, said guideway beingaligned at one end with another portion of the groovey in the sheave, and at the other end aligned with said adjacent end of the internal storage surface ofthe drum, a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod engaged in said groove and drivable by the sheave, said rod, toward one 'end thereof, extending outwardlyfrom said groove and from said chamberedinterior of the housing through `said opening, to permit mechanical connection thereof to an antenna or the like tovbe driven, and toward the other end thereof extendf ing from another, angularly spaced portion of said groove; through saidinclined guideway and thenceinto said drum, and stationary retaining portions in said housh ing holding a portion of the driving rod in the groove and blocking escape of the rod from the drum except along said guideway.

l5. A driving 'mechanism for an extensible vantenna or the'like comprising a housing having a chamber therein and a generally cylindrical wall bounding said chamber, a shaft extending substantially axially within said chamber, a peripherally grooved driving pulley rotatably supported by said shaft in said housing, said housing also having a neck portion projecting substantially tangentally lexte'riorly from said wall and yadapted to be coupled to a telescopic antenna assembly, a passageway extending generally tangentially from the groove of said pulley through said wall and'neck and providing communication between said chamber and the interior of an antenna assembly coupled. to said neck, a worm wheel rotatably supported in said housing by said shaft and coaxial with and fast with respect to said pulley for rotation with the pulley, a worm in said housing meshing with said worm! wheel, an electric motor atlixed tothe exterior of said housing and having a driving shaft substantially coaxial withand drivingly coupled to said worm and also projecting substantially tangentially outwardly from said wall, a' drum supported by said shaft within said hous ing coaxially with said pulley and worm wheel and free- -ly rotatable independently of said pulley and worm wheel, said drum having a substantially cylindrical internal wall' delining an internal storage chamber and having an open end adjacent to and facing toward said pulley,'a guideway formed in said housing integrally with said wall and located adjacent to and substantially'coplanar at one end with said pulley vgroove andiextencb in" both radially and axiall therefrom in a curved ath 12 presser means in said housing and vslidably engageable by said ro-d at a pluralityl of positions along the portionthereof extending around said pulley to retain said rod into said pulley groove for frictional drivable engagement with'said pulley.

16. A. driving mechanism for an extensible antenna or the likecornprising a housing having a chamber therein and av generally cylindrical wall bounding said' cham-ber, a shaft extending substantially axially within said chamber, a peripherally groo-ved driving pulley rotatably sup-y ported by said shaft in said housing, said liousingalso having a neck portion projecting substantially tangentially exteriorly from said wall and adapted to be coupled to a telescopic antenna assembly, a passageway extending generally tangentially from the groove of said' pulley through said wall and neck and providing communica-v tion between said chamber and the interior of any antenna assembly coupled to said neck, a worm wheel rotatably supported in said housing by said shaft and coaxial withand fast with respect to said pulley for rotation with the pulley, a worm in said housing meshing with said worm wheel, an electric motor atlixed to the exterior of said; housing and having a driving shaft substantially coaxial with and drivingly coupled to said worm and also pro-A jecting outwardly substantially tangentially and inl the? same direction as and generally parallel to said neck from a diametrically opposite area of said wall, a drum supported by said shaft within said housing coaxially with said pulley and worm wheel and freely rotatable independently of said pulley and worm wheel, said drum having. a substantially cylindrical internal wall dening an internal storage chamber and having an open' end adjacent to and facing toward said pulley, a guideway' formed in said housing integrally with said wall and located ad# jacent to'and substantially coplanar at one end with said pulley groove and extending both radially and axially therefrom in a curved path partially around said pulley groove and toward said drum, a flexible but relativelyA inelastic insulating driving rod extending` through saidpassageway, partially around said pulley andi thence along said guideway in a generally helico-spiral path and'into said internal storage chamber in said drum, vthe radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley, and presser means mounted in said housing and slidably engageable by said rod at a plurality of posi-k tions along the portion thereof extending aroundsaid pulley to force said rod into said pulley groove forfrictional drivalble engagement with said pulley.

17. A driving mechanismv for an extensible antenna including a housing having a chamber therein and a Wall bounding said chamber, said housing also having an exteriorly projecting neck adapted to engage an antenna, a passageway' formed in said housing extending from said chamber through` said wall and through said neck', a driving pulley rotatably supported in said cham-ber inthe housing and having a peripheral groove, said passageway being substantially'tangential to the groove of said pulley, a drum member defining a substantially cylindrical `ir`1't'er'y nal storage chamber supported in said housing caxi'ally with and rotatable independently of said pulley and hav-V ing an lopen end adjacent said pulley, a llexible but rel'atively inelastic insulating driving rod associated at one end with an antenna and extending through said' passage; way into frictional driving engagement with said pulley and into said drum, the radius of the open endof the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than theV diameter of the driving rod, driving means'rfor said pulley, andre'taining portions slidably engageable by said rodfat a pluralit'yof positions along the portion thereof engaging said pulley. i

18. A driving` mechanism for a-n extensible antenna' including a housing having a chamber therein'and'a' wall brniriding said chamber, said housing also having `an ex' t'eriorly projecting neck adaptedto engage an antonin,- a passageway yformed in said housing extending from' saidl amera chamber through said walluandthrough said neck, a driving pulley rotatably supportedin said chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, `said passageway being substantially tangential to the groove'of said pulley, a drumyrnember defining a substantially cylindrical internalstorage chamber supported in said housing coaxially withand rotatable independently of said pulley and having an open end adjacent said pulley, aflexible but relatively `inelastic insulating driving rod associated at lone end with an antenna and extending through said passagewayinto `frictional driving engagement with said pulley and into said drum, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of thepulley by more than thediameter ofthe driving rod,ldriving means for said pulley, and retaining portions slidably engageable by said rod at a plurality of positions along the portion thereof engaging `said pulley to force the rod into frictional driving engagementwith said pulley at a plurality of positions along the pulley. o l l 19. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and wall bounding said chamber, a driving s heave rotatably supportedlin said chamber in the, housing and having an annular groove, means including a gear `fast to and coaxial with said sheave for driving said sheave in rotation, a free-floating rotatable drum mounted in said cham-ber `coaxially with said sheave and gear, said drum having a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber and an open end facing and substantially aligned with said groove, a passageway formed in said wall and extending outwardly therethrough generally tangentially to said groove, a llexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod adapted to be associated at its outer end with a slidable member mounted exteriorly of said housing and` extending from outside said chamber into the interior thereof through said passageway and into said groove, and thence out of said groove and into said storage chamber in said drum, and a stationary guideway in said chamber adjacent another portion of said groove and extending therefrom into proximity with said open end of the drum to guide said rod out of the groove and into said drum, the rod being helically coiled in the drum. l

20. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and a wall bounding said chamber, a shaft centrally rotatably mounted in said housing and extending axially across said chamber, a peripherally grooved driving pulley and a worm wheel rotatably mounted within said chamber on said shaft in lixed relation to one another, a drum defining a substantially cylin.

drical internal storage chamber journaled on said shaft and having an open end adjacent said pulley and being freely rotatable with respect to said pulley and worm wheel, a Worm journaled in said housing intermeshing with said worm wheel, means for rotating said worm, a guideway formed in said housing, said guideway having one end thereof adjacent and substantially coplanar with the groove of said pulley and extending in a curved path partially around said groove and being axially inclined away from said groove and toward said drum, and a flexible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod extending through said passageway, around a portion of said pulley groove, along said guideway and into said drum, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than the diameter of the driving rod.

21. A driving mechanism including a housing having a chamber therein and a wall bounding said chamber, a driving pulley rotatably supported in said chamber in the housing and having a peripheral groove, a passageway formed in said housing and extending tangentially from said pulley groove through said wall to the exterior of -said housing, a freely rotatable drum mounted in said chamber coaxially with said pulley and defining a sub- "f"stantially cylindrical internal storage chamber of greater diameter than said pulley, said drum hving an open end adjacent to said pulley, guideway means formed n tegrally with said housing adjacent the periphery of said pulley for l guiding a flexible rod axially between said pulley and said drum,` a e'xible but relatively inelastic insulating drive rod`frictinally engaging and drivablelby said pulley` and extending throughl"said passageway `e`xteriorly` of said housing and interiorly partially "around said pulley andalon'g said guidewayand into saidjdrum, the radius `of the open end' of "the drum exceeding the radius of the'pulley by more than" the diameterof the driving rod, a gear coaxially fixed to said pulleyffor driving said pulley in rotation,lworin drive means intermeshing with' saidgear and extending tangentially `therefrom, and means to urge said rod into engagement with said pulley. o j d 22. A driving mechanism `for anextensible antenna or the like comprising a housing, a peripherally grooved driving` pulley rotatably mounted in said housing, a gear frictional driving `mounted in said housing andcoaxially fixed to said pulley for `rotation therewith, means to drive said gear in rotation, a `drum mounted in said' housing coaxially with said pulley and freely rotatable independently of said pulley and said gear,` said drum'dening a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber and having an open end adjacent to and facing said pulley, a guideway formed in said housing adjacent and substantially coplanar with the "groove of said pulley and extending partially around and axially away from said pulley groove and toward said drum, a exible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod frictionally engaging a portion of the groove of said pulley and extending out of said groove in a generally d helico-spiral path along said guideway and into said drum through the open end of the latter, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than the diameter of the driving rod, a curved flexible shoe member mounted within said housing adjacent the periphery of and extending partially around said pulley and slidably engaging said rod in said pulley groove, and means to urge said shoe member radially inwardly toward said pulley at a plurality of spaced positions along said pulley groove to force said rod into frictional driving engagement with said pulley.

23. A driving mechanism for an extensible antenna or the like comprising a housing, a peripherally grooved driving pulley rotatably mounted in said housing, a passageway formed in a wall of said housing and extending generally tangentially from the groove of said pulley through said wall to the exterior of said housing, a gear mounted in said housing and coaxially aflixed to said pulley for rotation therewith, a drum mounted within said housing coaxially with said pulley and freely rotatable independently thereof, said drum defining a substantially cylindrical internal storage chamber and having an open end adjacent to and facing said` pulley, a guideway formed in said housing adjacent and substantially coplanar with said pulley groove and extending in a curved path partially around and inclined axially away from said pulley groove and toward said drum, a exible but relatively inelastic insulating driving rod extending through said passageway, partially around said pulley and thence along said guideway in a generally helco-spiral path and into said drum, the radius of the open end of the drum exceeding the radius of the pulley by more than the diameter of the driving rod, and shoe means mounted in said housing and slidably engaging said rod at a plurality of positions along the portion thereof extending around said pulley to force said rod into said pulley groove for frictional driving engagement by said pulley.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT-S (Other references on following page) 2,326,443 Dillon Aug. 10, 1943' 1,087,058 France Aug. 1s, 1954 

